WVU Offers Nanosystems Emphasis for Science, Engineering Majors
National Science Foundation Funds
WVNano Program
Engineering and science majors at West Virginia University may now choose to complete a nine-credit-hour emphasis in nanosystems, and WV Nano recently received a $180,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help develop the program. This new program gives undergraduate students the unique opportunity to gain depth in their own discipline while learning to value other disciplines through participation in interdisciplinary nanosystems research groups.
Nanotechnology involves the observation and manipulation of material smaller in size than a wavelength of light. Researchers in many scientific disciplines are studying these tiny bits of matter intensely because nano-sized materials have properties that are valuable for real-world applications in areas ranging from consumer products to health care, energy, security and more.
WV Nano is an interdisciplinary program aimed at advancing nanoscience, engineering and education at WVU, involving students and faculty across the physical and health sciences and engineering. The Nanosystems Emphasis, designed to be compatible with majors in science and engineering, began as a pilot program in the spring of 2007 with Introduction to Nanotechnology Design, a freshman course. This course was team taught by a group of faculty from across campus to freshman students spanning science and engineering.
Beginning in the spring of 2008, the program will expand to an emphasis that students can conveniently incorporate into the requirements of their major in science or engineering through interdisciplinary seminars and research that will span the four years of their undergraduate education. A major emphasis of the effort is aimed at recruiting women, minorities, students with disabilities and other underrepresented groups to the program.
Dimitris Korakakis, assistant professor of electrical engineering in the Lane Department of CSEE is the lead faculty member on the project. WVU was one of only 10 universities that received the grant from 75 nationally that applied. This year’s awards specifically targeted undergraduate engineering education.
“Nanoscale science and engineering is advancing rapidly in all sectors of our society,” said Korakakis, “and it is inherently interdisciplinary. Students who are experienced in an interdisciplinary environment and who gain research experience early will have a decided advantage in graduate study or the professional world. We are quite proud to have received this NSF grant, and pleased to be able to offer this exciting program to WVU students.”
Other faculty involved in the project are Robin Hensel, coordinator of freshman engineering; Kasi Jackson, assistant professor of women’s studies, Boyd Edwards, professor of physics, Phyllis Barnhart, associate director for Education and Outreach of WVNano, and Larry Hornak, professor of electrical engineering and co-director of WV Nano. In addition, faculty members in biology, chemistry, physics, health sciences and engineering will supervise the research of emphasis area students in their laboratories.
For more information, contact Phyllis Barnhart at Phyllis.barnhart@mail.wvu.edu .